Psalm 23:1-6, ESV
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:1-6, JN paraphrase
Almost certainly the best known of the Psalms of David. This short poem lilts for the very beginning. The open phrase, “The LORD is my shepherd” demands to be followed by “I shall not want.” David continues to invoke green pastures, still waters, restoration, paths of righteousness, I am devoid of fear, for the rod and staff of the LORD, God, the Almighty. All this to be demonstrated before my most virulent enemies.

Surely, I have nothing more to add but, “ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Hallelujah, praise my Savior.

Recommended Reading

The Doctrine of Belief: A Proposal to the Church on How to Practice Believing in God by A. C. Winter. YUP, it’s a winner. I’m about 3 pages into “Believing Defined”, Chapter 2 and finding the footnotes to be as instructive as the main copy. But confession time, I didn’t make any progress in my self-assigned studies. Tonight’s time has to be focused on JI Packer’s Knowing God in preparation for our study of this text.

Psalm 22:19-31, ESV
But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it..

Psalm 22:19-31, JN paraphrase
Deliver me, oh, LORD, as You have before from sword, wild animals, even the power of wild oxen.

I will spread Your Name throughout the congregation, praising You. I will direct those who fear You, the offspring of Jacob, to glorify You and let their awe of You be known throughout. You have been generous in Your support of the afflicted, the downtrodden, the lost and lonely. All shall eat and be satisfied, and shall praise You. All the ends of the earth shall worship and adore You.

All owe fealty to You, from kings to chimney sweeps. All from now to coming generations, all shall proclaim You righteousness to the unborn.

Recommended Reading

The Doctrine of Belief: A Proposal to the Church on How to Practice Believing in God by A. C. Winter. YUP, it’s a winner. I’m about 3 pages into “Believing Defined”, Chapter 2 and finding the footnotes to be as instructive as the main copy.

Psalm 22:6-18, ESV
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God.

B e not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones—T hey stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Psalm 22:6-18, JN paraphrase
So reminiscent of Your last day; hanging on the cross, mocked by all—You the LORD of the Universe. How can anyone, mock you? Especially we who are the fruit of Your word? The One who spoke the Universe in those powerful phrases and everything in it into being? “LET THERE BE...and there was.”

Recommended Reading

Have you set up a daily reading plan for studying the Scriptures. Are you using one of the many Bible in a Year Plan or have you developed your own. I’m a adherent to my own plan that is tuned to my own study habits. And that tuning is very important. Without it, it is far to easy to get behind and suddenly have the burden of playing catch-up. That does not induce one to acquire a working knowledge of Scripture.

Psalm 22:1-5, ESV
To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

Psalm 22:1-5, JN paraphrase
Why, LORD, God, the Almighty, why do You ignore my cries of despair but trusted and delivered my fathers? They cried and You answered; I am abandoned and ignored. Why, why?

Recommended Reading

I just started The Doctrine of Belief, A Proposal to the Church on How to Practice Believing in God by A. C. Winter. Based on the Preface and chapter 1, I think I’ve acquired another winner. So far, another winner in my library.

Psalm 21:1-7, ESV
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Psalm 21:1-7, JN paraphrase
We, the people of God are one whom the LORD, God, the Almighty instructs today, We come to Him for direction and counsel and we exult. You give us our heart’s desire and do not withhold the requests of our lips.

You bless us richly, we who are Your representatives to the world. It is Your glory that inspires us and encourages us to bring that powerful word, “Thus saith the LORD…” to bear upon upon the sins of the world today, and pronounce Your imminent coming. For we trust You.

Recommended Reading

Man – The Dwelling Place of God, by A. W. Tozer. From the preface: “The chapters in this book deal with many of the aspects of one subject: the relationship of God and man. They are above all practical and all who read them will profit.” Each chapter is short and easily adapted to a daily devotional. Try it! I find it fits well into my end of day devotionals. Read Chapter 8 “True Religion is not feeling but willing.” Three terse pages, approximately 1/3 highlighted.